Are Russian nukes as decrepit as their conventional weapons? (Page 1/18)
Raydar MAR 14, 03:10 PM
Nobody wants to entertain the possibility of any sort of a nuclear device being deployed/employed. Period.
With that statement gotten out of the way, what does anyone think about the possibility of the Russian nuclear arsenal being as outmoded and poorly maintained as some of their other weaponry?
(And yes, I am painfully aware, as are the Ukrainians, that some of their stuff still works.)

I certainly wouldn't want to take the gamble, nor would (I suspect) any "thinking" person. But I can't be the only person wondering about it.
rinselberg MAR 14, 03:20 PM
I think that Russia's nuclear arsenal is in top shape. The most functional component of the Russian military. Especially the strategic nuclear weapons that directly threaten the United States. Putin has been showcasing it for years.

There was a video that Russia put out like a couple or three years ago. A video animation of one of Russia's "new and improved" Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles striking Florida with a warhead. Not just any part of Florida, but close to Mar-a-Lago. This was when Trump was in office.

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 03-14-2022).]

MidEngineManiac MAR 14, 04:31 PM
Personally, I think Putin is playing some kind of strategy-game.

For some reason (damned if I can figure it out) he seems to be throwing mostly his "junk" into Ukraine and keeping the good stuff in reserve.

Almost like he was waiting to spring a trap.
Raydar MAR 14, 05:51 PM

quote
Originally posted by MidEngineManiac:

Personally, I think Putin is playing some kind of strategy-game.

For some reason (damned if I can figure it out) he seems to be throwing mostly his "junk" into Ukraine and keeping the good stuff in reserve.

Almost like he was waiting to spring a trap.



You may be right.
General consensus is that he thought it was going to be a cakewalk. Maybe that was all for show. Maybe he's just trying to "sucker people in".
Maybe it is all by design.

And, maybe a thought for another topic, but wouldn't it be funny if China "saw their chance", and invaded Russia?

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 03-14-2022).]

Patrick MAR 14, 06:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

And, maybe a thought for another topic, but wouldn't it be funny if China "saw their chance", and invaded Russia?



While we're distracted by Russia/Ukraine, I think the chances would be much higher for an invasion by China of Taiwan.
Raydar MAR 14, 06:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

While we're distracted by Russia/Ukraine, I think the chances would be much higher for an invasion by China of Taiwan.



Of course, you're probably right. But hey... In for a penny, in for a pound.
Just a "what if".
sourmash MAR 14, 07:29 PM
Yes, China may well invade China.
RWDPLZ MAR 14, 10:51 PM
Even if most of their ICBM's don't work, they'd still have more than enough to destroy the planet as we know it. They have almost 6000 nuclear warheads, just a couple dozen would be enough to wipe out our major population centers.

I think the point of using antique tanks, guns (I saw guys carrying Mosin Nagants, FFS) and conscripts was to deplete their oldest weapons and least effective soldiers so they could be replaced with new weapons and professional soldiers.

Soviet technology was far inferior to ours, but it tended to be very reliable and made to last.
Hudini MAR 15, 01:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

While we're distracted by Russia/Ukraine, I think the chances would be much higher for an invasion by China of Taiwan.



Th locals here think it's more likely they would continue to sweet talk them into voluntarily joining China under some special agreement. And as always, mainland would use the contract language to gradually strangle the island into total submission.
Patrick MAR 15, 02:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by Hudini:

The locals here think it's more likely they would continue to sweet talk them into voluntarily joining.



I suspect that no amount of "sweet talk" by China will have any effect on the Taiwanese people. They're fully aware of what's been transpiring in Hong Kong.